The Osceola times., 1887-03-12
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher Strick'
en- Down by Apoplexy.
All Hope for His Recovery Abandoned anu
His Family, Friends AMI Congrega-
tlon sorrowfuiiy Awaiting
the Final Summons.

New YORK, March THE Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher has had stroke OF
apoplexy, and now lies unc onsclous
While hoping that the attack may not
prove fatal, grave fears are entertained
by his fam ly and intimate fiiends that
his labors as pastor in this world nave
ended Mr. Beecher resiles with his son,
Colonel Henry Beecher. at the corner oil
Hicks and Clark streets, in Brooklyn. A
son, who is in the West, another in San
Francisco, and Mrs. Sc willie, his
daughter, have been telegraphed for
Colonel Beechsr h IS also telegraphei
for his son, who Is IN fale
College. Colonel Beechsr and his
brother ex-Assistant D strict At
torney william C. Beecher, with his wife
and Mrs Beec err, were at the bedside OF
the great clergyman all day to-day. They
were completely overcome with grief at
his condition. He has always been In
such good health, and was apparently so
hale for his age that they could hardly
realize that he was lying there in such
helpless condition. His attack came on
so gradually that his wife and son were
unable TO realize the full extent OF his Ill
ness.
BRooKLYS, n Y, March 6-The anxiety
| of hundre Is of citizens of Brooklyn TO
learn the condition of Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher led them to visit the residence OF
his son. Colonel Henry Beecher, at Clark
and Hicks streets, at an early hour this
morning Only the immediate friends OF
the family were admitted, but as soon as
| any one emerged from the dwelling where
the great preacher was lying at the point
| of death, they were eagerly questioned by
the throng who surrounded the house.
They had no word of encouragement in
regard to his condition, for he had lain In
an unconscious condition since Saturday
afternoon, and had not since that time
given any evidence that he recognized any
| person about his bedside Up to that
| time he had been able to raise his right
hand to his head and give them to under
stand that he was suffering considerable
| pain, but in the evening he seemed to
pass into comatose state, his breathing
was hard, and he lost the power Of NOV
ing his body.
Mrs Beecher was by his bedside good
| portion of the night and she was relieved
by her daughter, Mrs. Scoville, who ar
rived early last evening. The medicine
prescribed by the physician was regularly
taken, and Mr., Beecher had no difficulty
| in swallowing 1t.
DR.. Searle, his family physician, reached
| the house shortly after eight o'clock this
morning, and, after an examination, con-
cluded that Mr. Beecher was not as well
as last evening, and il was probably only
| a question of a few hours when he would
pass away. He was not surprised at Mr..
| Beecher's condition, having anticipated an
unfavorable change.
| All efforts to arouse Mr.. Beecher to any
sense of consciousness proved unavailing.
| Ths family were, of course, overc lme
with grief it being difficult for III IN TO
realize that there was no hope Of change
| for the better.
At four o'clock this morning there
seemed to be a change for the worse, and
| all the members of the family were sum
moned Breathing almost ceased, and dis
solution seemed near The patient was
wholly unconscious, but half an hour later
a raj y took place.
At ten o'clock another alarming relapse
occurred. NJ jor Pond took a carriaga and
hastened 20 Dr., II lmm nd's OH g in New
| York. The do tor was so engaged that he
| could not leave, and he sent a req lest TO
DR.. VIM Tod lie muth to 60 instead, and
wait until he cime. Dr. Helmu h assent
ed, ami drove back wi h NJ jor Pond, and
a, II a m. this bulletin was issued:
Prof Hemuth. in consultation, fully confirms
the opinion OF the other physicians Mr.. Beech
er is gra iually falling. He may, however, live
| for several days.
| [Sgnedl W. s. SEARLE
BY this time there was crowd Of sew
| eral hundred persons around the house,
W no pressed eagerly forward to scan the
bulle in. Then some of them moved sadly
away to the church. short distance from
| the horse, and listened TO the mournful
| services, which only servel to remind
them more forcibly Of him who had been
stricken from the pulpit he had occupied
so long.
An hour or 80 later DR.. Hammond ar
rived at the house and consulted with
Doctors Searle and Helmuth, and the fol-
lowing bulletin was issued:
| March $3.50 p. m.
DR.. Hammond in consultation. Mr. Beecher
in deep state Of coma all day. No sign Of
| pain consciousness OF any sort. Death con
sidered certain, but at an indefinite time-prob-
| ably not to-day.
tSigned W. S. SEARLE.
Mr. Thos. g. Shearman and other i'm.
| mediate friends of the family were ad-
| mitted to the sick room during the day,
and one after another emerged with eyes
filled with tears. In the afternoon 1t re-
| qNired the services of two policemen to
kee p the steps TO the dwelling from being
blocked completely by the crowd.
DIR. Searle made another call upon Mr..
Beecher about five o'clock, and said that
he thought he was breathing easier, and
he did not look for immediate dissolution
1t was his opinion that Mr. Beecher would
live until tomorrow.
During the day he has been under the
constant supervision OF his physician, Who
will remain with him during the night.
Drs. w. T. Helmuth and W. A. Hammond,
of New York City have each visited him
once to-day, All these medical advisers
are in full and active accord as 10 the To-
cation OF the diseased part, its present
status the remedial measures TO be en-
ployed, and as TO the progress of the case.
II is their opinion that the history of to-
day confirms the opinion they have enter
tanned from the beginning viz: that re-
covery is not to be hoped for; that though
the effusion Of blood into the brain is now
stopped, fresh hemorrhage may at any
time occur and speedily end life; that this
is not likely to happen so far as present
indications can be trusted.
No sermon was preached at Mr. Beech
er's church this morning, but beautiful
and impressiveservlce took its place The
church was well filled Rev. DR.. Powell,
secretary Of the Home Missionary Society,
conducted the service, assisted by Rev. s.
B. Halliday, Mr.. Bsecher's white haired
assistant DR., Powell praved for the
congregation in the deep affi ction that
had come upon it. Then venerable DR.
Halliday rose, and, with trembling voice,
said: at seems fit that we omit the regp-
lar service and celebrate only the cor.
rnupiap fhinlr vour ha mill aJ;Nr